Safety, Health and Wellbeing

Personal protective equipment guidelines

Our role is to develop and assist in the implementation of the UWA safety, health and wellbeing programs in order to minimise the risk of injury, illness and property damage.

We provide consultancy and other services to promote best practice and legislative compliance in all University and related activities.

Further information

There are also other types of personal protective equipment that are required for specific tasks not covered here, such as:

disposable clothing for working with chemicals, radiation hazards, welding, painting

lead aprons for X-ray protection

sleeve protectors, aprons, coveralls when using chemicals

leather jackets, trousers and spats for welding

thermal and cold protective clothing for work near furnaces and cool rooms.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is clothing and equipment worn by employees, students, contractors or visitors to protect or shield their bodies from workplace hazards.

Section 19 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 sets out the obligation of an employer 'where it is not practicable to avoid the presence of hazards at the workplace, [to] provide the employees with, or otherwise provide for the employees to have, such adequate personal protective clothing and equipment as is practicable to protect them against those hazards, without any cost to the employees'.

Codes of Practice: First Aid Facilities and Services, Workplace Amenities and Facilities, Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment 2002, provides guidance on the selection, provision and use of personal protective equipment and requirements for specific hazards.

In the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administration and PPE), personal protective equipment is considered the least satisfactory method in the prevention of work-related injury or illness and is only to be used when other measures are not feasible or cannot be implemented immediately. PPE should be used, however, to supplement or augment other means of hazard control, to further minimise the risk of injury.

Issues affecting use of PPE include discomfort and inconvenience, and inappropriate or poorly maintained equipment. It is vital that problems caused by inadequate selection, fit and maintenance do not undermine the effectiveness of the equipment.

Other personal protective equipment: This may include PPE for specific tasks such disposable clothing for working with chemicals, radiation hazards, welding, painting. Examples include: lead aprons for x-ray protection; sleeve protectors, aprons, coveralls when using chemicals; leather jackets, trousers and spats for welding; thermal and cold protective clothing for work near furnaces and cool rooms.